Electrically controlled valve



Nov. 12, 1935. n C; c, HANSEN v2,020,833

ELE'CTRIGALLY CONTROLLED VALVE Filed May 12. 1950 Patented Nov., 12, 1935 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE Charles C. Hansen, Forest Park, Ill., assignor to Refrigerating Specialties Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 12, 1930, Serial No. 451,615

7 Claims. f(Cl. 137-139) The invention relates to electrically controlled valves.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved electrically controlled valve which is adapted primarily for use in controlling the flow of refrigerant in refrigerating systems wherein full closing and opening cycles of the valve are desired; in which a hammer blow is imparted to a pilot valve to control the movement l0 of the main valve by the pressure of the fluid;

in which the necessity of stung boxes is dispensed with; in which thepilot-valve and valve are built as a self-contained unit which is adapted for use on different valve pistons, and are l easily assembled therewith; in which a blow from the armature of the magnet and the pressure of the fluid through a, secondary valve are conjoint'- ly utilized to close positively, but gently, the main valve; in which the helix of the magnet and the conductors therefor are enclosed in a moisture-4 proof housing; and which includes means for manual control independentof the electric control. Other objects of the invention will appear from a consideration vof the following detailed description. l

The invention consists in vthe several novel features which are, hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the-con clusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals oi reference denote corresponding parts throughout the severalviews: Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a valve embodying the vinvention in its open position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the .valve in its closed position. Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale through the valve piston and' the secondary piston and pilot valves.

The invention is exemplified in an electrically controlled valve comprising a casing or body 5 which is provided with flanges 8 whereby it may be bolted to flanges on the ends of pipes or fittings, an inlet 6 for fluid under pressure, an outlet 1, and an integral wall 9 which separates the inlet from the outlet and is provided with an opening I8 through which fluid may pass from the inlet to the outlet. A main valve piston II comprises a4 cylindrical wall II, an integral bottom Wall IIb, and a ring I3 set into a recess in the bottom t face of wall vI Ib'and removably held thereon by a nut I4. Ring I3 is formed of suitable material to form a valve-seat, and is adapted to engage a coacting seat on the cross-wall 9 to-cut oli communication between the inlet 6v andthe outlet 1.

Piston I I ts and is slidable vertically in a cylinder I2 which is formed in the casing 5 and communicates with the inlet side thereof. The upper end of the piston II is open. A port I6 is formed in the lower portion of the piston to admit fluid under pressure to the chamber II in the top of the piston and into the-cylinder I2 in which the piston slides. When the piston is closed, it will be held against its seat on wall 9 by the pressure of the fluid in the inlet-side of the valve body. Pis- 10 ton I I constitutes the main closure for cutting oi communication between the inlet and outlet sides of they valve casing.

A casing I1 is formed with a cylinder I8 for a secondary slidable valve-piston 22 and has a bot- 15 tom wall seated on the top face of the bottomwall I Ih of the main piston I I. It has an integral stem I9 which extends through wall IIb and ring I3, and is provided with a vertical port 2|. Nut I4 is threaded to the lower end of said stem and 20 clamps and removably secures the casing I1 and the ring I3 to the piston II. Secondary valve piston 22 fits and is vertically slidable in the cylinder I8, and is adapted to seat on the bottom wall ol casing I1 to close the upper end of port 25 2l to stop the flow through the main valve-piston. Ports 20 extend through the side wall of the secondary valve-casing I'I to admit fluid from the chamber II in piston II into the cylinder I8 below piston 22. Vertical port 2l in stem I8 30 permits the iiuid in piston I I to pass therethrough under control of the secondary valve-piston 22. A ring 23 in the lower face of casing I1 is adapted to seat on the bottom of the casing to control the flow through port 2l. 'A nipple 24 with a port 35 3i, removably secures ring 23 in casing I1 and has a screw-threaded stem 24 which is threaded to the piston 22. 'Iv'he upper end of casing I1 is closed by a head 25 which has a port 25a therein to admit fluid to the upper end of cylinder I8 40 and piston 22. A cylinder 26 is formed in the secondary valve piston 22 and a pilot piston or plunger 21 is slidablein said cylinder. Oblique ports 28 are formed in piston 22 to admit fluid to the lower end of cylinder 26 and piston 22. Pilot 45 plunger 21 is provided in its lower end with a seat 30Y to engage the upper end of nipple 24, to close vertically through-port 3| and control the flow of fluid through secondary valve piston 22. Plunger 21, when lowered, is adapted to close the 50 lower end of oblique ports 28, and to close port 3| in nipple 24.

Pilot plunger 21 is controlled by an electromagnet of the solenoid type which comprises an armature 32 and a helix 33. A head 34 is remov- 55 ably secured by bolts 35 to the up'pex` end of casing 5. Helix 33 is contained in a cylindrical lhousving 35a formed at, and integral with, the upper end of said head. A tube 36, disposed between the helix and the armature, has its lower end threaded into the neck of said head, and` is formed of suitable non-corrodible metal, such as Allegheny metal which is adapted to resist the action of the refrigerant. Armature 32 is slidable in tube 36 and is enclosed thereby. A screwplug 31 is threaded into and closes the upper end of tube 36, and its lower end serves as a. stop for limiting the upward movement of the armature 32 when the helix 33 is energized. A cap 38 ts over the housing33 and encloses the top of the helix. A nut 39, threaded to the upper end of plug 31, is adapted to jamb the cap 38 on the top of the housing 35B to seal the helix. An angular opening 40 is formed in the plug 31 for the conductors leading to and from the helix, and the upper end of the nut 39 is usually filled with sealing material around the conductors to seal the housing. This is of importance when the valve is used for lines which become frosted as in refrlgerating systems. By this construction, the tube which guides the armature will be closed, so that no stufng box is necessary-for the connection between the solenoid and the valve, and the use of non-corrodible metal makes it possible to use the device for refrigerating systems.

A rod 4I, secured to the lower end of armature 32, extends through head 25 at the upper end of casing I1, and through a cap 42 which is threaded into the upper end of the pilot plunger 21. A head or abutment 43 is formed on the lower end of rod 4I to engage cap 42 to lift said plunger and to strike a screw plug 44 in the plunger to lower the latter. Plug 44 is threaded to the inside of plunger 21. This construction exemplifies a lost Imotion connection between the armature 32 and the pilot plunger 21 for imparting hammer blows to the pilot, and whereby the pilot will be shifted to control the flow of fluid under pressure through piston 22, ports 28, and the port 3| in the nipple 24. 1

The operation will be as follows: Assuming the Valve to be closed, as shown in Fig. 2, fluid under pressure will pass through-port I6 to exert downpressure on the Valve piston I I, and hold it closed, so that opening I0 will be closed. Fluid will also pass through port 25a in the head 25 into cylinder I8 to exert down-pressure on and hold the valvepiston 22 so its ring 23 will seat on the bottom of cylinder I8 and close port 2I in stem I9. Fluid in the top of cylinder IB-Will also exert pressure on the top of pilot-plunger 21 and force it downwardly to close the lower ends of oblique ports 28, and to hold its seat 30 on the upper end of nipple 24 to close port 3I in said nipple. 'Ihe weight of armature 32 will also be applied through head 43 to hold the pilot plunge-r down. As a result the main valve piston II, the secondary piston 22,

and the pilot-plunger will all be held closed to prevent the flow of fluid through opening I0 in the valve-casing, port 2| in the cylinder I1 and port 3I in the secondary valve-piston. Helix 33 will be deenergized, and its armature 32 will be held in its lowered position by gravity, the head 43 of rod 4I resting on plug 44 to hold the pilot plunger 21 seated on the nipple 24 and close the port 3I in said nipple. When the valve is to be opened, helix 33 will be energized which will lift the armature 32. The head 43 on rod 4I will, after it has travelled upwardly freely from plug 44 to cap 42, impart al hammer blow to and lift the in the nipple 24.

pilot-plunger 21 suf'cien'tly to open the port 3| Fluid will then pass from the cylinder I2 and the chamber I I in valve-piston I I through diagonal ports 28 to the underside of the plunger 21, and into cylinder 26, and from said cylinder it will pass through port 3I lin nipple 24 to the outlet side of the casing 5. This will reduce the pressure on the upper end of the piston 22, and will release the secondary valve-piston 22. The pressure exerted on the lower end of the secondary valve piston 22 by fluid admitted.

through ports 20 will lift said piston and raise ring 23 of its seat on the casing I1. This will open the port 2I so fluid can pass from the cylinder I8 through opening I0 into the outlet side of valve-casing 5. The preponderant pressure of the fluid on the underside of the valve-piston III will then left it to its fully open position shown in Fig. l, and the pressure on the underside of valve piston 22 will hold it in its .open position while the armature 32 remains raised, to permit the fluid to flow freely through opening III into the outlet 1. When the valve is to be closed, the circuit through helix 33 will be opened to deenergize the helix 33 which will cause the armature 32 to fall by gravity. Initially, the drop of the armature will be free until its head 43 strikes the plug 44 in pilot-plunger 21. The impact from this drop of the armature will impart a downward blow to the pilot plunger 21 to close the ports 28 ,and so its seat 30 will close the port 3| in nipple 24. This will stop the flow of fluid through the secondary valve-piston and will also force lt downwardly so its ring 23 will close port 2l in the casing I1. Pressure will then be exerted on the top of piston 22 and the main piston I I, and flow of fluid through the main valve piston II will be interrupted, and, thereupon, the main valve piston will be closed and held by the pressure of the fluid as before described.

In this operation, when the armature 32`is released, the force acquired from the velocity of its drop will impart a kick or blow to the pilot plunger 21 and to the secondary valve piston 22, which will bring the secondary valve-piston to its seat, and the consequent velocity jolt imparted to the main piston valve I1, together with the gravity of all of' the moving parts, will cause the main valve, as fast as fluid can replace the partial vacuum caused by the downward movement of the piston valve, to seat on wall I9 and close port I6, and thus cause the main valve piston fully and positively, but gently to close.

In some instances, it is desired to control the valve manually, and for this purpose, there is provided a stem 50 which is screw-threaded to a nipple 5I which is screw-threaded into the bottom of the casing 5. Stem 5I) is provided with a. handle 52 outside of said casing, whereby it may be turned to raise and lower the stem. The latter passes through a packing box 53 in the nipple. The upper end of the stem 5I) is adapted to pass through the opening I0 in Wall 9 and nipple I9 to engage the nipple 24 and unseat the secondary valve piston 22 so fluid will pass into cylinder I8 to raise valve piston 22 .and permit the uid to raise the main valve piston II. 52 is lowered, the valve pistons will close, as before described.

The invention exemplifies an electro-magnetically controlled valve: in which a pilot, having a lost motion connection with the armature, has hammer blows imparted thereto, and controls the ow of fluid through the main valve piston, so that the force and impact of the armature are When the stem aoadsss i 3 utilized to shift the plunger and secondary valve for controlling the now through the secondary andthe main valve pistons; in which the main and secondary valve pistons are held closed by the pressure of the fluid; in which the pressure of the fluid is utilized to supplement the force of the armature to open the main and secondary valve pistons: in which full strokes are effectively but gradually imparted to the main valve; which is adapted for refrigeratlng systems in which the use of packing -boxes for the valve ports lsdispensed with; in which the helix of the magnet is sealed so that the valve is adapted for use where the lines become frosted; in which provision is made for manually shifting theA secondary valve piston to open the main valve piston when occasion should arise; in which secondary -.valve piston, the pilot plunger, and the armature form a unitary structure which can be easily mounted, and interchangeably used on diierent valves; and which can be produced at a low cost.

The invention is not to be understood as. re-

stricted to the details set forth, since these may be modiied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desireY to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In an electrically controlled valve of the character described, the combination of a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet for fluid under pressure, a main valve piston for control` ling the flow of the fluid between the inlet and outlet, slidably mounted in the casing and provided vwith a port for permitting a portion of its fluid to pass therethroughfrom theinlet to the outlet. a secondary valve piston for controlling the ow Ydf fluid through the port ln the main valve piston, an electro-'magnet comprising an armature for controlling said secondary valve piston, and manually operable means adapted to.

pass through the port inthe main valve piston, for shifting the secondary valve piston in order to effect opening oi the main valve piston without use of the magnet.

2. In an electrically controlled valve of the character described, the' combination of a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet for fluid under pressure, a hollow main valve piston for controlling the flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet. adapted to be held in its closed position by the pressure of the fluid and provided with a port for permitting a portion of the fiuid to pass therethrough in order to release the pressure of the uld thereon and permit it to move into its open position, a hollow, secondary valve piston for controlling said port slidably mounted within the main valve piston and adapted to be held in its closed position by the pressure of the fluid, and provided with port ,means for permitting uid to pass therethrough from the inlet to the aforesaid port in the main valve piston for the purpose of allowing said secondary valve to move into its open position, apilot plunger slidably mounted in the secondary valve piston and arranged to control the flow of fluid through said port means of the secondary valve piston, and a magnet comprising an armature connected to shift the plunger.

3. In an electrically controlled valve of the controlling the flow of uid between theinlet and outlet, adapted to be held in its closed position by the pressure of the fluid and provided with a port for permitting a portion of the fluid to pass therethrough in order to release the pressure of the uid thereon and permit it to move into its open position, a hollow, secondary valve piston for controlling said port slidably mounted: .within the main valve piston `and adapted to be held in its closed position by the pressure ofthe fluid and provided with port 10 means for permitting fluid to pass therethrough from the inlet to the-aforesaid port in the main valve piston for the purpose of allowing said secondary valve to`move into its open position,

a pilot plunger slidably mounted in the secondl5 ary valve piston and arranged to control the flow of iluid through said port means of the second valve piston, a magnet comprising an armature, and a lost motion operating connection between the armature and the pilot plunger whereby the latter is actuated with a hammer blow when the magnet is energized.

4. In an electrically controlled valve of the character described, the combinationof a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet for fluid under pressure, a hollow main valve piston for controlling the flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet, adapted to be held in its closed position by the pressure of the fluid and provided with a port for permitting a portion of the fluid 30 to pass therethrough in order to release the pressure of the fluid thereon and permit it to move into its open position, a hollow, secondary valve piston for controlling said port slidably mounted within the main valve piston and adapted to be held intits closed position by the pressure of the fluid, and provided with port means for permitting fluid to pass therethrough from the inlet to the aforesaid port ln the main valve piston for the purpose of allowing said secondary valve to move' into its open position, a pilot plunger slidably mounted in the second- A ary valve piston and arranged to control the ilow of fluid through said port means of the second valve piston, and means for actuating the pilot plunger comprising an electromagnet embodying an armature with a stem and a lost motion operating connection between the stem and the pilot plunger operative when the `magnet is energized to impart a hammer blow to the plunger so as to shift the latter into its open position. r

5. In an electrically controlled valve, the combination of a casing havingfa head at the top portion thereof and provided with an inlet and an outlet for'fluid under pressure, a valve piston for controlling the flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet mounted slidably in the casing and provided with a port for permitting fluid to pass therethrough, means for controlling said port, a vertical tube secured in the head and communicating by way of the head with the portion of the casing having the valve piston, a magnet comprising a helix around the tube and an armature movably confined in the tube and connected to operate the controlling means, a plug secured in and serving to close the upper end of the tube and having an externally threaded portion above the tube with an angular passage therein for the conductors for the helix, a housing on the head and around the helix, a cap for said housing having an opening therein through which extends the externally threaded portion of the plug, and a nut on said externally threaded portion of the plug for clamping the cap on the housing.

6. In a valve of the character described, the

, combination of an elongated casing adapted to extend vhorizontally and embodying an inlet at yone end and an outlet at its other end for fluid Yunder pressure, a cross-wall between said inlet and outlet forming an inlet compartment for the fluid in the top central portion of the casing and forming an outlet compartment for the fluid in the bottom central portion of the casing and having the central portion thereof extending horizontally and provided with a vertical aperture for permitting the fluid to pass from the inlet compartment to said outlet compartment, and an upwardly extending part forming a vertical cylinder above the inlet compartment and directly over said aperture; means for admitting fluid from the inlet compartment into the cylinder; a cup-shaped valve piston for controlling the flow of fluid from theinlet compartment into the outlet compartment positioned above the crosswall and comprising a cylindrical side wall of uniform diameter from one end thereof' to the other slidable vertically in the cylinder and a circular bottom wall connected to and formed integrally with the lower end of the side wall and having a port in the central portion thereof aligned with the aperture and an annular cavity around the port and a packing ring in the cavity for engaging the aperture forming portion ofthe cross-wall and also having the outer margin thereof tapered downwardly to form an inclined annular surface around the ring, said piston being adapted when the` port is closed and in response to the pressure of fluid in the cylinderto slide downwards into a closed position wherein the packing seats against the aforesaid 'aperture forming portion of the cross-wall and being further adapted when the port is open and the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder is thereby released to slide upwards into an open position in response to the pressure of the -fluid lin the inlet compartment operating against said annular surface; means mounted in and movable with the piston for opening and closing the port.; andmeans disf.

aosasss combination of an elongated casing adapted to extend horizontally and embodying an inlet at one end and an outlet at its other end for iluid under preure, a cross-wall between said inlet and outlet forming an inietfcompartment for -the .5 iiuid in the top central portion of the casing and forming an outlet compartment for the fluid in the bottom central portion of the casing and having the central portion thereof extending horizontally and provided with a vertical aperture lo for permitting the fluid to pass from the inlet compartment to said outlet compartment, and an upwardly extending part forming a vertical cylinder above the inlet compartment and directly over said aperture; means for admitting fluid 1 5;

vcentral portion thereof alinged with the aper- 2 5 ture and an annular cavity around :the port and 'a packing ring in the cavity forengaging the aperture forming portion of the;cross=wa1l and also having the outer margin thereof tapered downwardly `to form an inclined annular surface around the ring, said valve piston having a hole leading from said annular face and extending through the bottom wall for admitting fluid from the inlet compartment into the cylinder and being ,adapted when the port is closed and in response to the pressure. of fluid in the cylinder to slide i downwards into a closed position wherein .the

packing seats against the aforesaid apertureforming portion of the cross-wall and being further adapted when the port is open and the pressure 4o of the fluid in the cylinder` is thereby released to slide upwards into an open position in response to the pressure of the iiuid inthe inlet compartment Voperating against said-annular surface:

means mounted in and movablewith the piston for opening and closing the port; andmeans disposed outside of the casing for actuating the port opening and closing means.

y CHARLES C. HANSEN. 

